Rotatable target for pin ball game apparatus



Sept. 19, 1950 J. FIRESTONE ROTATABLE TARGET FOR PIN BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1947 4 SheetsSheet 1 In z 'entar Jack Firestone P 1950 J. FIRESTONE 2,523,257

ROTATABLE TARGET FOR PIN BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll'cutar Jack F iresfone Sept. 19, 1950 J. FIRESTONE 2,523,257

ROTATABLE TARGET FOR PIN BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Jack F iresfone Wi away H M5718 Fig.3

Sept. 19, 1950 J. FIRESTONE ROTATABLE TARGET FOR PIN BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 In uentar Patented Sept. 19, 1950 ROTATABLE TARGET FOR PIN BALL GAME APPARATUS Jack Firestone, Brooklyn, N.,Y., assignor of eighty per cent to Supreme Enterprise, Incorporated, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 16, 1947, Serial No. 748,566

r This invention relates to improvements in pin ball game apparatus of the type in which a plurality of targets are mounted on the periphery of a revolving disk so as to successively move across an alley downwardly to and upwardly from a position where the "same may be struck by a ball rolled down the alley, in which the targets are hinged to be swung rearwardly and upwardly from a vertical set position to a substantially horizontal inoperative position when struck by a ball, and in which each target is held in either position by the action of a tens-ion spring which is movable to opposite sides of the hinging point of the target.

The present invention has particular reference to an improved electrical means for registering the scores made in playing a game by use of an apparatus of the above type.

In accordance with the present invention, the targets are preferably arranged in a plurality of sets, with a plurality of targets in each set that progressively and similarly increase in scoring value. An electrical contact isprovided on the back of each target, and the contacts of the targets of each set are arranged outwardly of and at progressively increased distances from the hinging points of said targets. A plurality of fixed contact elements are mounted in back of' the revolving disk for co-action with the contacts of rearwardly swung or struck targets so as to close the circuit of and thereby energize an electrical score registerin device. These fixed contact elements progressively extend to or are progressively located at lesser distances from the revolving disk so that only one of the same will be engaged by the contact of the target of each set having the lowest scoring value for thereby effecting only a single energization of the score registering device, so that two of the same will be engaged by the contact of the target of each set having the next higher scoring value for effecting two energizations of the score registering device, and so on. The score registering device is of a conventional re-settable type adapted to register a predetermined number of points upon each energizatio-n thereof, so that the scores registered will correspond in value to the values of the rearwardly swung or struck targets. The fixed contacts are mounted on the periphery of a ring having a peripheral cam arranged to coact with the contacts of the targets for resetting the latter to their vertical operative positions after their scoring values have been registered and before they return to the position for bein struck by a ball rolled downthe alley.

The exact nature of the present invention will become apparent from the following description 3 Claims. (01. 273127) when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bowling alley equipped with a target and score registering dea Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of one of.

the targets.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the brackets which are fixed to the periphery of the revolving disk and to which the targets are hinged.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a wiring diagram showing the manner in which the contacts of the targets co-act with the fixed contacts for energizing the score registering device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indi cates a bowling alley having a ball return 6 at one side thereof and a score registering device 1 at the other side of that end of the alley where the bowler remains in playing the game. A suitable backstop 8 is provided at the other end of the alley 5 and houses a target device which includes a plurality of targets 9 intended to be struck by balls I0 rolled. down the alley 5.

The target device includes a revolving disk H having a circular series of the targets 9 mounted on the periphery thereof so as to successively move across the alley idownwardly to and upwardly from a position where the same ma be struck by a ball ill rolled down the alley. The disk I l is secured on a horizontal shaft 12 driven by an electric motor l3 mounted by suitable bracket means It upon the rear wall'l5 of the backstop '8. The targets 9 are hinged to be swung rearwardly and upwardly from a vertical set or operative position as shown by full lines in Figure 2 to a substantially horizontal inoperative position, as shown by dotted lines at the bottom of Figure 2, when struck by a ball. For this purpose, each target 9, which may be in the nature of an elongated plate shaped similar to a bowling pin, is provided at the back with a rearwardly projecting hinge member :6 pivoted at H to a second hinge member I'B secured on the periphery of disk I I. 'The arrangement is such that the inner end of target 9 will abut the margin of disk 'II to limit swinging of the target outwardly and forwardly to the vertical operative position. A

bedded in the outer surface thereof.

helical tension spring 19 connects each target with the disk ll so that said spring i movable to opposite sides of the hinging point H, of the target for holding the latter in either position thereof. The targets are preferabl arranged in a plurality of sets as shown, with a plurality of targets in each set that progressively and similarly increase in scoring value as indicated by the scoring numerals 20 thereon. A rearwardly projecting electrical contact pin, 2! is provided on the back of each target, and the contact pins 2| of the targets of each set are arranged outwardly of and at progressively increased d-is tances from the hinging points l1 of said targets. The contact pins 2| of all of the targets are connected by flexible conductors 22 with a conductor ring 23 secured on the back of the disk I I concentric with shaft 12. The conductor'ring' 23 carries a brush 24 that engages a peripheral collector ring 25 of a stationary disk 26 disposed concentric with shaft l2 behind disk H. The stationary disk 26 is fixed to a supporting In operation, the motor [3 is placed in operation by closing switch 31, thereby causing rotation of disk II in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 3. As the targets 9 move downwardly into proximity to the surface of alley 5, they reach a position wherein the same may be struck by a ball ID rolled down the alley. When a target is struck b a ball, it is caused to swing rearwardly and upwardly to the horizontal dotted line position of Figure 2, being maintained in such position by the associated spring !9 which has been moved rearwardly past the hinging point I! of the target in question. When the target is So swung, its contact pin 2| engages the outer surface of band 28 and,

ring 2'! carried by the bracket means Is directly behind said disk 2-5, Secured on supporting ring 21 is an insulating band 23 having a plurality of spaced transverse fixed contact elements 29 em- The contact elements 29 are connected by aconductor 3B, and they progressivel extend to or are progressively located, at lesser distances from the revolving disk I! so that only one of the same will be engaged by the contact of the target 9 of each set having the lowest scoring value, for

thereby elfecting only a single energization'of the score registering device 1, so that two of the same will be engaged by the contact of the target of each set having the next higher scoring value, for efifecting two energizations of the score registering device, and so on. The score registering device 7 is of a conventional resettable type adapted to register a predetermined number of points upon each energization thereof, so that the scores registered will correspond in value to the values of the rearwardly swung or struck targets. One wire 3| Of a two-wire conductor cord 32 is connected to the collector ring 25, and the other wire 33 of conductor cord 32 is connected to the conductor 39, which connects the contact elements 29. Wire 3i extends to one side of a source of electricity 34, whose other side is connected to one side of the register l. The

wire 33 connects to-the other side of register I, and it will be seen that the circuit of register 1 will be closed each time a contact pin 2! engages a contact 29, for energizing and causing operation of said register 1.

It will be noted that the contacts 29 are arranged on one side portion of band 28 so as to be engaged by the contact pins 2! of struck targets '9 as they move upwardly at thi side portion of band 28.

At the top and beyond the contacts 29, the band 28 is provided with a cam 35 arranged to co-act with the contacts 2| of the struck targets for re-setting the latter to their vertical operative positions after their scoring values have been registered and before they return to the position for being struck by a ball rolled down the alley 5. A suitable switch 36 may be provided for manually opening or closing the-circuit of register I aside from the controlling action of the contact pins 2! and contact elements 29 on said circuit; Also, a manually operable switch 31 may be mounted on the registering device 1 f0 controlling the operation of motor I3.

elements 29 arranged in the path thereof. Each time the contact pin 21 engages a contact element 25, the circuit of register 1' is closed so that the register registers a predetermined number of points. The contact pin of the struck target then rides over cam 35 so that the latter swings the target upwardly and forwardly for resetting the same in a vertical operative position, the target being retained in the latter position by its associated spring 59 due to passage of the latter forwardly past the hinging point I? of the target.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will'be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated, such. as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a pin ball game apparatus, a vertical motor-driven revolving disk, a plurality Of targets hingedly mounted on the periphery of said 7 disk for being swung rearwardly and upwardly from a vertical set position to a substantially horizontal inoperative position, a tension spring connected between each target and the disk so as to be mounted for movement to opposite sides of the hinging point of said target for holding the latter in either of said positions, and a stationar cam arranged adjacent and behind said disk and co-acting with the rearwardly swung targets for resetting them in a vertical operative position upon continued rotation of said disk;

2.In a pin ball game apparatus, a vertical motor-driven revolving disk, a plurality of targets hingedly mounted on the periphery of said disk for being swung rearwardly and upwardl from a vertical set position to a substantially horizontal inoperative position, a tension spring connected between each target and the disk so as to be mounted for movement to opposite sides of the hinging point of said target for holding the latter in either of said positions, and a stationary,

cam arranged adjacent and behind said disk coacting with the rearwardly swung targets for resetting them in a vertical operative position upon continued rotation of said disk, and camengaging pins projecting rearwardly from said hinging points of the latter.

3. In a pin ball game apparatus, a vertical motor-driven revolving disk, a plurality of targets hingedl mounted on the periphery of said disk for being swung rearwardly and upwardly from a vertical set position to a substantially horizontal inoperative position, a tension spring connected between each target and the disk so as to be 6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 651,601 Ganter June 12, 1900 1,167,423 Nelson Jan. 11, 1916 1,807,074 Sheavs May 26, 1931 1,942,376 Stavely Jan. 2, 1934 2,145,846 Cannon Feb. 7, 1939 

